OUR COLORFUL CITY OF MAGNIFICENT DISTANCES
( National Geographic Society
Finlay Photograph by Clifton Adams
THE NEW WORLD'S NOBLEST OBELISK
Washington Monument towers to a height of 55517 feet. It was begun in 1848 but not com
pleted until 1885. The line visible in the masonry just above the tree tops marks the place where
construction was suspended for 23 years. At night from the chamber at the top of the Monument
airplane signal lights warn night flyers of the towering shaft's whereabouts.